Definitions for "Critical success factors"
The certain factors that will be critical to the success of the organisation, in the sense that if the objectives associated with those factors are not achieved, the organisation will fail - perhaps catastrophically so. Identification of CSFs should help determine the strategic objectives of the organisation.
The key items that must be met in order to successfully achieve a specific objective.
The indispensable business, technology, and human factors that would help achieve the desired level of an organization's goal.