Acquiescent Defiance: Tuscan Wineries’ Partial Reactivity to the Italian Government’s Quality Regulation System

• In Event: 153 - Regular Session. Organizations: Institutional Change & Entrepreneurship

Abstract

This paper introduces “acquiescent defiance” as a form in which organizations can react 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—maintaining their own philosophy to offer products outside the official classification system. With 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. The Tuscan wine industry illustrates that organizations’ reactions to judgment devices is not limited to only two options, compliance or resistance. The third option of “acquiescent defiance” encompasses a duality of compliance and resistance, resulting not only in dysfunctional uncertainty about product quality but also in a greater field –level diversity of product offerings.

Authors

• Taeyoung Yoo, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

• Reinhard Bachmann, SOAS, University of London

• Oliver Schilke, University of Arizona