Contradicting ethics standards, corporate, following, including, objective

sdada

Ward is schedule to visit the corporate headquarters of Evans Industries. Ward expects to use the information obtained to complete his research report on Evans stock. Ward learns that Evans plans to pay all of the Ward’s expenses for the trip, including cost of the meals, hotel rooms, and air transportation. Which of the following actions would be the best course for ward to take under code and standards?
1. accept the expenses paid trip and write an objective report
2. pay for all travel expenses, including cost of meals and incidental items
3. accept the expense paid trip but disclose the value of the services accepted in the report
4. write the report without taking the trip
Answer: 2 is correct answer, the best course of action under standard 1 (b)
Answer 1 would not be the best course is incorrect because it would not remove the appearance of the conflict of interest: even though the report would not be affected by reimbursement of expenses, it could appear to be.
Steven Taylor, a mining analyst with Bronson Brokers, is invited by Precision Metals to join a group of his peers in a tour of mining facilities in several western U.S. states. The company arranges for chartered group flights from site to site and for accommodations in Spartan Motels, the only chain with accommodation near the mines, for three nights. Taylor allows precision metals to pick up his tab, as do the other analyst, with one exception – John Adams, an employee of the large trust company who insists on the following his company’s policy and paying for his hotel bills himself.
Comment: the policy of Adam’s Company complies closely with standard 1(B) by avoiding even the appearance of conflict of interest, but Taylor and the other analyst were not necessarily violating standard 1(B). When allowing companies to pay for travel and accommodations under these circumstances, members, and candidates must use their judgment keeping in mind that such arrangements must not impinge on a member’s or candidate’s independence and objectivity. In this example, the trip was strictly for the business and Taylor was not accepting irrelevant or lavish hospitality. These arrangements are not unusual and did not violate the standard 1(B) so long as Taylor’s independence and objectivity were not compromised. In final analysis, members and candidates should consider both whether they can remain objective and whether their interiority might be perceived by their clients to have been compromised.
My questions are:
? After reading the second example does option B appears to be correct answer.
? What should an analyst do in a real life situation i.e. worry about the appearance of the conflict of interest: even though the report would not be affected by reimbursement of expenses, it could appear to be or write an independent and objective report without taking into consideration how it would appear to the clients.