In a dynamic labor market, it is important to help people combine information and generate creative solutions to cope with complex career challenges. In the present research, we apply the theory of information structure to creative career idea generation and hypothesize that flat information structures—that is, structures in which the information is disorganized—are more conducive to creativity than hierarchical information structures—that is, structures in which information is organized in higher‐order categories. In two experimental studies, participants had to combine career information related to self and work preferences that was presented either in flat or hierarchical structures. We found that flat information structures, compared with hierarchical information structures, led to future career ideas that were more creative on average. Our results suggest that cognitive flexibility explains the effect of information structure on the creativity of career ideas. Theoretical implications and suggestions for career management practices are discussed.

中文翻译：

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我的下一份工作可能是什么？使用扁平化的信息结构来产生创造性的未来职业想法

在充满活力的劳动力市场中，重要的是要帮助人们结合信息并产生创造性的解决方案，以应对复杂的职业挑战。在本研究中，我们将信息结构理论应用到创造职业生涯的想法中，并假设扁平信息结构（即信息被杂乱无章的结构）比分层信息结构（即信息结构）更有助于创造力。哪些信息按较高级别的类别进行组织。在两项实验研究中，参与者必须结合与自我和工作偏好相关的职业信息，这些信息以平面或分层结构呈现。我们发现，与分层的信息结构相比，扁平的信息结构导致未来的职业想法平均更具创造力。我们的结果表明，认知灵活性可以解释信息结构对职业创意的创造力的影响。讨论了对职业管理实践的理论意义和建议。