Managing architecture in fragmented markets: survey insights from Croatia

Architectural management is a relatively underexplored discipline in Croatia, where it is often confused with design management and insufficiently integrated into professional practice and continuing professional development (CPD) frameworks. This study investigates the state of architectural management among Croatian architectural firms through an online survey of members of the Croatian Chamber of Architects (CCA), comprising 216 respondents, of whom 142 employers form the analytically relevant sample. The survey examined firm demographics, use of professional standards, fee-determination practices, management skill self-assessment and perceived challenges. Results reveal that 89.4% of surveyed firms are micro-enterprises with fewer than five employees, underscoring the dominance of SMEs in the sector. Most architects rely on simplified fee-determination methods – such as cost per square metre or percentages of construction costs – rather than structured scope-of-services standards, while over 70% identify low fees and unclear regulation as key challenges. Although respondents report relatively high self-assessed management skills, correlation analysis shows that demand for management education is not suppressed by confidence in existing abilities, suggesting that the underdevelopment of architectural management is structural rather than individual. This study provides the first systematic, survey-based assessment of architectural management in Croatia and positions its findings within broader European debates on professional fragmentation, fee formation, and firm resilience. While recent CCA reforms represent progress, the results highlight the need for deeper integration of management principles into professional standards and CPD frameworks to support the long-term sustainability of architectural practice. HIGHLIGHTSSurvey reveals low use of professional service standards among architects.Findings show weak business and financial skills in architectural firms.Market fragmentation dominates the architectural practice landscape.Architectural education lacks management, entrepreneurship and practice focus.Low architectural service fees and complex regulations weaken professional stability. Survey reveals low use of professional service standards among architects. Findings show weak business and financial skills in architectural firms. Market fragmentation dominates the architectural practice landscape. Architectural education lacks management, entrepreneurship and practice focus. Low architectural service fees and complex regulations weaken professional stability.