We believe that four views on key success factors can be distinguished in the literature.
Historically, the concept originated in the field of management information systems. It was
later transferred to the field of business strategy research. There it is used in different ways,
corresponding to the different schools of thought that can be found in that area (Grunert, in
press; Jemison, 1981; Mintzberg, 1990a). Mainly, one can distinguish between key success
factors as a business characteristic, as a planning tool, and as a market description. Each view
will be briefly described and evaluated.