change of course
Loading your saved state.
change of course
A fundamental change in a previous strategy, policy, or approach, for example in politics or in a company.
Die Partei vollzog nach der Wahlniederlage einen deutlichen Kurswechsel.
After the election defeat, the party made a clear change of course.
change of course
The actual change in the driving or flight direction of a vehicle, ship, or airplane.
Der Pilot kündigte einen Kurswechsel an, um das Gewitter zu umfliegen.
The pilot announced a change of course in order to fly around the thunderstorm.
The word is composed of 'der Kurs' (the course) and 'der Wechsel' (the change). 'Kurs' can mean both an actual direction (direction of travel) and a figurative strategy (political course), which explains the two main meanings.
Nach dem schlechten Quartalsergebnis kündigte die Firma einen Kurswechsel an.
After the poor quarterly result, the company announced a change of course.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about politics, business, or a strategy, the figurative meaning is meant. If it is about ships, airplanes, or vehicles, the literal change of direction is meant.
Die neue Regierung versprach einen sofortigen Kurswechsel in der Umweltpolitik.
The new government promised an immediate change of course in environmental policy.
In a political or strategic context, a Kurswechsel (change of course) is often combined with the verbs 'vollziehen' (to carry out), 'vornehmen' (to make), or 'einleiten' (to initiate). These verbs are more formal than 'machen' (to make/do).
Das Unternehmen hat einen radikalen Kurswechsel vollzogen.
The company has carried out a radical change of course.
To describe the nature of the strategic change, adjectives such as 'radikal' (radical), 'deutlich' (clear/significant), 'plötzlich' (sudden), or 'überraschend' (surprising) are often used.
Niemand hatte mit diesem plötzlichen Kurswechsel der Parteiführung gerechnet.
No one had expected this sudden change of course by the party leadership.
realignment
Neuausrichtung and Kurswechsel can both refer to a new strategic direction for an organization or party. Kurswechsel, however, usually emphasizes breaking more strongly with the previous path and sounds more vivid, whereas Neuausrichtung sounds more factual and suggests a deliberate adjustment. Choose Kurswechsel for a clearly visible departure from the previous direction; otherwise, use Neuausrichtung.
Mit dem Kurswechsel verabschiedete sich die Partei deutlich von ihrer bisherigen Sozialpolitik.
With this change of course, the party clearly broke with its previous social policy.
Die Partei kündigte eine Neuausrichtung ihrer Sozialpolitik an.
The party announced a realignment of its social policy.
