The class of analytical problems that is the target of the FACTORFINDER-Procedure, the success criterion shows a threshold value. That is the reason why even sub-optimal variants are considered as being acceptable as long as their success surpasses the threshold value of the target criterion.
The success criterion must be applicable to each example and shows just two values: An example fulfills the criterion or it fails. Each example can be assigned to one of those values. An acceptable variant (a "success" or "positive example") surpasses the success criterion. Inacceptable alternatives ("failures" or "negative examples") miss the success criterion. It is unneccessary to quantify the criterion any further. The only requirement is that it is possible to assign success or failure to each example. The success of each variant can be decribed by a boolean function.
Liquidity of different companies shall be considered as the success criterion: Some can pay their dues and others can not.