You are on the vendor selection committee for a large IT project that you will be managing for your company. Your friend works for a company that is planning to bid on the project. During a social dinner, the friend tells his job is on the line if his company does not win the contract. What should you do?
A. Notify the project stakeholders that you have social ties with one of the vendors, and excuse yourself from the selection committee.
B. Tell the friend you will do what you can, but don’t actually act on this.
C. Don’t mention your relationship to anyone involved with the project, but push for the friend’s company during the selection process.
D. This is simply networking. Let the project stakeholders know you have a social connection to the vendor and recommend they get the business.