<P> However, it also has other meanings . "Professional autonomy is often described as a claim of professionals that has to serve primarily their own interests...this professional autonomy can only be maintained if members of the profession subject their activities and decisions to a critical evaluation by other members of the profession" The concept of autonomy can therefore be seen to embrace not only judgement, but also self - interest and a continuous process of critical evaluation of ethics and procedures from within the profession itself . </P> <P> One major implication of professional autonomy is the traditional ban on corporate practice of the professions, especially accounting, architecture, medicine, and law . This means that in many jurisdictions, these professionals cannot do business through regular for - profit corporations and raise capital rapidly through initial public offerings or flotations . Instead, if they wish to practice collectively they must form special business entities such as partnerships or professional corporations, which feature (1) reduced protection against liability for professional negligence and (2) severe limitations or outright prohibitions on ownership by non-professionals . The obvious implication of this is that all equity owners of the professional business entity must be professionals themselves . This avoids the possibility of a non-professional owner of the firm telling a professional how to do his or her job and thereby protects professional autonomy . The idea is that the only non-professional person who should be telling the professional what to do is the client; in other words, professional autonomy preserves the integrity of the two - party professional - client relationship . But because professional business entities are effectively locked out of the stock market, they tend to grow relatively slowly compared to public corporations . </P> <P> Professions enjoy a high social status, regard and esteem conferred upon them by society . This high esteem arises primarily from the higher social function of their work, which is regarded as vital to society as a whole and thus of having a special and valuable nature . All professions involve technical, specialized and highly skilled work often referred to as "professional expertise ." Training for this work involves obtaining degrees and professional qualifications (see Licensure) without which entry to the profession is barred (occupational closure). Updating skills through continuing education is required through training . </P> <P> All professions have power . This power is used to control its own members, and also its area of expertise and interests . A profession tends to dominate, police and protect its area of expertise and the conduct of its members, and exercises a dominating influence over its entire field which means that professions can act monopolist, rebuffing competition from ancillary trades and occupations, as well as subordinating and controlling lesser but related trades . A profession is characterized by the power and high prestige it has in society as a whole . It is the power, prestige and value that society confers upon a profession that more clearly defines it . The power of professions has led to them being referred to as conspiracies against the laity . On the other hand, professionals acquire some of their power and authority in organizations from their expertise and knowledge . As such they can bend rules, reduce bureaucratic inertia and increase problem solving and adaptability . </P>

What do you understand by an it profession