That's good public relations. But several observers believe something deeper is at work. Corporations are edging toward a higher standard of accountability - forced in part by a wider availability of information in the age of the Internet. Indeed, the revolution in communications and the globalization of business investing are slowly pushing the movement forward. Many companies are recognizing it's not only good for consumers and the general public, but also for themselves.
Observers disagree whether the latest round of mea culpas falls into that category.
Katsuhiko Kawasoe, president of Mitsubishi Motor Corp., last month apologized for 20 years of his company's coverup of safety complaints. James Goodwin, chairman of UAL Corp., has taken out TV ads to say he's sorry for the canceling of thousands of United Airlines flights this summer. Tire-related accidents of the Ford Explorer have forced Ford president Jacques Nasser to pledge on TV to resolve the mess. Of course, apologies go only so far. Take United Airlines.