Nguyen, M. V. and Do, X. S. (2026) Investigating key sources of work stress at Vietnamese architectural design firms. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 24(6), pp. 1412-1434. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose – Architectural design firms (ADFs) play a vital role in the success of construction projects. Employees in these firms are exposed to substantial work-related stress. However, limited research has examined stress sources within ADFs. Thus, this study aims to investigate key sources of occupational stress among employees in Vietnamese ADFs using the Occupational Sources of Stress (OSS) framework. Design/methodology/approach – A three-phase research methodology was used. First, the stress items were identified through a review of previous studies and expert discussions. After that, data were collected through purposive sampling. 172 valid responses were then analyzed using the Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) method. Findings – The results reveal that Intrinsic to the job was the most impactful source of stress at Vietnamese ADFs ((Formula presented), followed by Role in the organization ((Formula presented), Relationships at work ((Formula presented), Organizational structure and climate ((Formula presented) and Career development ((Formula presented). Originality/value – The findings extend the application of the OSS framework in ADFs and highlight how Vietnam's cultural and organizational characteristics shape workplace stress. At the organizational level, ADFs are encouraged to focus on workload control, realistic scheduling and clearer role allocation. Aligning decision authority with responsibility is also critical for reducing employees' stress. At a policy level, the findings highlight the need to regulate excessive workloads of ADFs. The study also informs career entrants about the demanding nature of architectural work.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | architectural design firms; fuzzy synthetic evaluation; occupational sources of stress |
| Index terms: | research methodology, architectural design, construction project, scheduling, work stress, organizational characteristic, workload, methodology, fuzzy synthetic evaluation, workplace stress, occupational stres, purposive sampling, organizational structure, Vietnam, career |
| Subjects: | Geography, occupational health and safety management, sociology, research design and methodology, professional development, operations research, design practice, decision-making and optimization, research methods, management, psychology, production management |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Time Control, Project Management, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Information Management, Health and Safety, Geographical Context, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here