retention / maintenance
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retention
Holding on to or continuing something that already exists, such as a rule, a state, or a habit. It describes the act of not changing something, but leaving it as it is.
Die Geschäftsführung beschloss die Beibehaltung der flexiblen Arbeitszeiten.
Management decided on the retention of flexible working hours.
The noun 'die Beibehaltung' (retention) is derived directly from the separable verb 'beibehalten' (to retain/keep). The ending '-ung' turns the action of retaining something into a noun that describes the process or result.
Wir müssen die aktuelle Strategie beibehalten.
We have to retain the current strategy.
'Beibehaltung' (retention) is very often used with a genitive object to specify what is being retained. This structure is typical of formal administrative and written language.
Der Verein beschloss die Beibehaltung des alten Namens.
The association decided on the retention of the old name.
Common verbs used with 'Beibehaltung' (retention) are 'fordern' (to demand), 'beschließen' (to decide), or 'sichern' (to guarantee/secure). It often concerns the retention of rules, a state, or jobs.
Die Gewerkschaft fordert die Beibehaltung aller Arbeitsplätze.
The trade union is demanding the retention of all jobs.
change
'die Veränderung' and 'die Beibehaltung' are opposites. With a change, something becomes different from before, for example a rule, a situation, or your own life. With retention, something stays the way it is and is continued. 'Veränderung' fits when you want to emphasize the new state or the process. 'Beibehaltung' is more suitable in more formal situations when a conscious decision is made not to change anything.
Der Verein stimmte für die Beibehaltung der alten Öffnungszeiten.
The association voted to keep the old opening hours.
Nach dem Umzug war die Veränderung für die ganze Familie deutlich zu spüren.
After the move, the change was clearly felt by the whole family.