Paul Atreides is a recently minted MBA working for Dune National Bank, a small regional bank. He's married and has just purchased a home with his wife who's expecting their first child in less than six month. Alice is a kindergarten teacher on a one-year contract at a school without health insurance coverage and the couple plan for her to take at least a year off once the baby is born. Paul's salary is higher than the industry average but job prospects in the area are poor.

The CFO has tasked Paul with analyzing a potential acquisition by Dune, another small financial institution in a neighboring county. She's provided Paul with the company's financials as well as Dune's proposed price. As Paul leaves her office, she tells him: "This deal is important to Mr Sacks and he expects a positive recommendation from you at the recommended price."

Paul knows Mr Sacks is the Vice Chairman of the Board, the highest powered outside director of the bank, and he has ties with the firm under consideration and is good friends with Dune's CEO. He suspects the price may be inflated given his boss's admonition to return a favorable report.

Consider Paul's various obligations: to his family, to his firm, to the firm's shareholders. Discuss his options, and recommend a course of action for Paul should he determine that Dune's price for the other institution is excessive.

Ethical dilemmas are dilemmas because the choices are hard and the situation is not black and white. What may appear clear from a distance looks very different in the thick of things. Put yourself in Paul's shoes.