Acquiescent Defiance: Tuscan Wineries' Partial Reactivity to the Italian Government's DOC/G System.

This study introduces "acquiescent defiance" as a novel form of organizational response to judgment devices. Using the example of the Tuscan wine industry, we show that wineries can partially comply with the government's quality classifications system while, at the same time, maintaining their own philosophy to offer products outside the official classification system. Through this research, we provide new insights into the role and functioning of judgment devices and also contribute to a more nuanced understanding of responses to institutional pressures and of identity work in business environments. Extending prior research, our study illustrates that organizations' reactions to judgment devices are not limited to only the two options of compliance or resistance. The third option of "acquiescent defiance" encompasses a duality of compliance and resistance, potentially resulting not only in dysfunctional uncertainty about product quality but also in greater field-level diversity of product offerings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]