Final answer:
A professional organization aims to control entry, maintain competency, and represent a profession's interests. Such organizations structure membership requirements, uphold practices and advocate for members' rights and interests in the broader community.
Step-by-step explanation:
A professional organization is a collective of individuals who share the same profession, with a common goal of fostering a controlled entry into the profession, maintaining standards of practice, and advocating for the profession when engaging with other parties. The correct answer to fill in the blank from the provided options is d) Competency. Professional organizations such as the American Bar Association, and American Hospital Association, and labor unions like the AFL-CIO play a crucial role in defining professional conduct, ensuring the provision of ongoing educational opportunities, and setting the criteria for proficiency within their respective fields.
These organizations are structured as formal groups with a clear hierarchy, ensuring a division of labor and impersonality that removes personal feelings from professional situations. They work collectively to improve not only the work conditions but also address the broader implications for the society by advocating for laws and policies that benefit their members and the community at large. Membership in such organizations may sometimes be a requirement for practicing in certain professions or for gaining access to specialized resources and networks.