Investigating key sources of work stress at Vietnamese architectural design firms

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 (IIITJ=4.238), followed by Role in the organization (IIRTO=3.817), Relationships at work (IIRAT=3.579), Organizational structure and climate (IIOSC=3.524) and Career development (IICRD=3.328). 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.