I suppose it could be nervous laughter, or perhaps the knowing in the deep recesses of ones psyche; that Ethics, and their impact on doing business is needed. Today, I told a Professor that I wanted to get my Ph.D. in business to teach ethics, research it, and create policy as well as endorse its adoption. And the class chuckled. Well, some did, others said it was needed… especially in the interaction between Government, and Civilian business endeavors.
Considering I just heard about an office make-over that cost over $1,000,000 for one office, and was paid for apparently on taxpayer money because it was after the bailout funding… yah, I think Ethics needs to be a much, much, much, larger element of American business schools.