As a new systems analyst at Premier Financial Services, you are getting quite an education. You report to the IT manager, who also chairs the systems review committee. Several months ago, the committee rejected a request from the finance director for an expensive new accounts payable system because the benefits did not appear to outweigh the costs. Yesterday, the IT manager's boss asked the IT manager to reconsider the finance director's request, and to persuade the other members to approve it. The IT manager wanted to discuss the merits of the request, but the discussion was cut off rather abruptly. It turns out the IT manager's boss and the finance director are longtime friends.

The IT manager is now very uncomfortable meeting with her boss. She believes the directive to reconsider the finance director's request would undermine the integrity of the systems review process. She feels it would be unethical to grant preferred treatment just because a friendship is involved. She is thinking of submitting a request to step down as review committee chair, even though that might harm her career at the company. Is this an ethical question, or just a matter of office politics?

What would you do if you were the IT manager?