Final answer:
A pre-initiation task for a project is developing a business case. This task involves gathering stakeholder input, expert advice, and analysis before formally proposing the project. It is key for securing buy-in and defining the project's scope and resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about pre-initiation tasks in the context of project management. Pre-initiation tasks are those actions taken before a project officially starts. Of the options listed, developing a business case for a project is an activity undertaken during the pre-initiation phase. The other options, such as drawing up a work breakdown structure, drafting the project charter, and identifying stakeholders, occur after the project has been initiated, although stakeholder identification often has a significant overlap with pre-initiation.
Developing a business case involves gathering information from customers and other stakeholders, finding expert information and doing a root cause analysis to identify the real problem. This is essential for securing buy-in from all project stakeholders. A well-established business case helps justify the initiation of the project and serves as a reference for its overall objectives and the benefits it aims to deliver.
Once a business case is developed, the information derived from it can greatly inform the drafting of a proposal. The proposal should define the problem, present possible solutions, and conclude with a recommendation. In the process of preparing a proposal, one also needs to perform an accurate problem definition to understand the scope of the design project and the resources available.