Correct Answer: Government policies

Solution : The correct answer is (D) Government policies

The task environment consists of factors that directly interact with and impact the organization's day-to-day operations, performance, and decision-making. It includes immediate stakeholders and entities with whom the organization has direct interactions.

While government policies can have an indirect influence on the organization and its operating environment, they are typically considered part of the broader external environment, specifically the macro environment. Government policies encompass regulations, laws, and policies that affect businesses but are not immediate task environment factors. Therefore, the correct answer is D) Government policies.