Purpose - This study attempts to examine the influence of external environments on the generation and development of organizations and the complex diversity of organizational form. Desing/Methodology - A theory analysis framework was set up first. Then, the case study method and secondary data were used to attest the framework, through a comparative analysis of a group of classical Chinese firms in the context of 30 years of China’s economic reform and opening-up. Findings - The generation and change of organizational structure is closely related to a wider range of organization ecology and institutional environments, rather than being the result of initiatives of organization itself. In China, enterprise external institutional factors are particularly important. Implications - The study facilitates to understand the generation and development of Chinese enterprises, and the universality and particularity of Chinese situation.