A network management method, executed by a first network management unit of a communication network, wherein the method comprises: obtaining (401, 501), by the first network management unit, network management service description information or network management indication information, wherein the network management indication information is an identifier used to identify the network management service description information, the network management service description information comprises at least one of a managed object and management operation information, and the network management service description information is used to describe a management service supported by the network; and sending (402, 502), by the first network management unit, the network management service description information or the network management indication information to a second network management unit; wherein the method further comprises: receiving, by the first network management unit, a network management service creation request from the second network management unit, wherein the network management service creation request carries the network management service description information or the network management indication information; determining, by the first network management unit, a network management service instance based on the network management service description information; and sending, by the first network management unit, network management service instance information to the second network management unit, wherein the network management service instance information is used to describe the network management service instance. obtaining (401, 501), by the first network management unit, network management service description information or network management indication information, wherein the network management indication information is an identifier used to identify the network management service description information, the network management service description information comprises at least one of a managed object and management operation information, and the network management service description information is used to describe a management service supported by the network; and sending (402, 502), by the first network management unit, the network management service description information or the network management indication information to a second network management unit; wherein the method further comprises: receiving, by the first network management unit, a network management service creation request from the second network management unit, wherein the network management service creation request carries the network management service description information or the network management indication information; determining, by the first network management unit, a network management service instance based on the network management service description information; and sending, by the first network management unit, network management service instance information to the second network management unit, wherein the network management service instance information is used to describe the network management service instance. receiving, by the first network management unit, a network management service creation request from the second network management unit, wherein the network management service creation request carries the network management service description information or the network management indication information; determining, by the first network management unit, a network management service instance based on the network management service description information; and sending, by the first network management unit, network management service instance information to the second network management unit, wherein the network management service instance information is used to describe the network management service instance.