Abstract: An electronic voice response system includes an interface unit which couples the voice response system to a plurality of trunk groups, each including a plurality of telephone lines, which are each characterized by a set of operating parameters. The system additionally includes a control unit which is responsive to commands by an administrator of the system, for assigning configuration files which contain pre-defined sets of configuration values which correspond to the set of operating parameters to selected trunk groups. The control unit is additionally responsive to commands by the administrator for individually altering selected configuration values and for generating new state definitions for a particular trunk group. The control unit generates a state machine for each trunk group according to the assigned configuration file and responds to events received over each telephone line in accordance with the definition contained in a corresponding state machine.