This paper systematically reviews and analyzs the history of institutional development of the communication discipline, and further empirically investigates what factors have determined the research performance of communication organizations. This study finds that communication schools stem from multiple sources, including speech, practical journalism, agricultural journalism, public relations, technical communication, etc., and some organizations, opt to follow along with the original sources, while some choose to merge multiple sources within the same university or to restructure themselves by other means. In addition, through the analysis of determinants of the research performance of communication organizations, the author argues that communication organizations should focus on developing appropriate graduate-level curriculum aiming for strengthening the cross-disciplinary ability, having more collaborations and exchanges with leading overseas schools, and appreciating the importance of focused research of current and potential faculty members.