A method for managing a network slice instance, comprising: receiving, by a first network device, a network slice instance creation request from a transmit end device, wherein the network slice instance creation request is used to request to create a target network slice instance, and the network slice instance creation request comprises description information of the target network slice instance; wherein the first network device is a Network slice manager and orchestrator, NSM&O; sending, by the first network device, network function configuration indication information to a second network device based on the description information, wherein the network function configuration indication information is used to instruct the second network device to configure a network function of the target network slice instance; wherein the second network device is an Element manager, EM, which is configured to manage a physical network function and/or a virtualized network function; wherein the first network device and the second network device perform interaction through an NG5 interface; receiving, by the first network device, network function configuration response information sent by the second network device, wherein the network function configuration response information indicates that the configuration of the network function of the target network slice instance is completed; and sending, by the first network device, network slice instance creation response information to the transmit end device, wherein the network slice instance creation response information indicates that the creation of the target network slice instance is completed; wherein the NSM&O performs an interaction with a Virtualized network function manager, VNFM, through an NG1 interface, the NSM&O performs an interaction with a Virtualized infrastructure manager, VIM, through an NG2 interface, the NSM&O performs an interaction with a Network manager, NM, through an NG3 interface, and the NSM&O performs an interaction with a Network function virtualization orchestrator, NFVO, through an NG4 interface; wherein the NSM&O interacts with the VNFM and VIM to create a shared or dedicated virtualized network function, VNF, and then the NSM&O interacts with the EM to configure the created VNF; or alternatively, the NSM&O interacts with the NFVO to create a shared or dedicated VNF, and then the NSM&O interacts with the EM to configure the created VNF. receiving, by a first network device, a network slice instance creation request from a transmit end device, wherein the network slice instance creation request is used to request to create a target network slice instance, and the network slice instance creation request comprises description information of the target network slice instance; wherein the first network device is a Network slice manager and orchestrator, NSM&O; sending, by the first network device, network function configuration indication information to a second network device based on the description information, wherein the network function configuration indication information is used to instruct the second network device to configure a network function of the target network slice instance; wherein the second network device is an Element manager, EM, which is configured to manage a physical network function and/or a virtualized network function; wherein the first network device and the second network device perform interaction through an NG5 interface; receiving, by the first network device, network function configuration response information sent by the second network device, wherein the network function configuration response information indicates that the configuration of the network function of the target network slice instance is completed; and sending, by the first network device, network slice instance creation response information to the transmit end device, wherein the network slice instance creation response information indicates that the creation of the target network slice instance is completed; wherein the NSM&O performs an interaction with a Virtualized network function manager, VNFM, through an NG1 interface, the NSM&O performs an interaction with a Virtualized infrastructure manager, VIM, through an NG2 interface, the NSM&O performs an interaction with a Network manager, NM, through an NG3 interface, and the NSM&O performs an interaction with a Network function virtualization orchestrator, NFVO, through an NG4 interface; wherein the NSM&O interacts with the VNFM and VIM to create a shared or dedicated virtualized network function, VNF, and then the NSM&O interacts with the EM to configure the created VNF; or alternatively, the NSM&O interacts with the NFVO to create a shared or dedicated VNF, and then the NSM&O interacts with the EM to configure the created VNF.