An external developer working on a project at an hourly rate provides an invoice at...

The project manager should first request justification from the developer because the invoice must be validated before approval, rejection, or escalation. In project procurement and vendor management, invoices should be checked against assigned work, timesheets, deliverables, contract terms, purchase orders, and approvals. Since no tasks were assigned, there may be an error, unrecorded work, emergency support, misunderstanding, or unauthorized billing. Asking for justification creates a factual basis for the next decision and protects the project from paying unsupported costs. Declining the invoice immediately may be premature if legitimate work was performed but not properly documented. Escalating to the steering committee should occur only after initial verification fails or a material dispute exists. Consulting other developers is indirect and less appropriate as the first step.

================