A Study on the Factors that Affect the Enterpreneurial Intention of Pre-Entrepreneurs: Focusing on the Moderating Effect of Self-Efficacy

Background/Objectives: The present study performed a positive analysis on the factors affecting entrepreneurial intention with a focus on the moderating effect of self-efficacy by pre-entrepreneurs including university students and nascent entrepreneurs. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The present used Smart PLS 2.0 to verify the selected model. PLS analysis requires verification of measurement questions and constructs. Moreover the PLS method was used a suitable manner in the early stage of development of a theory that has not been verified. It is because this study has the strong nature of an exploratory study. Findings: As a study on the influence on the entrepreneurial intention of pre-entrepreneurs, the present study positively analyzed the relationship between locus of control educational factors and organizational factors, and the mediating role of self-efficacy, by using self-efficacy as a moderating variable. As a result of hypothesis verification, hypothesis 1, which claims that locus of control positively affects entrepreneurial intention, is adopted, along with hypotheses 2 and 3 which claim that educational and organizational factors positively affect entrepreneurial intention. However, the analysis of the moderating effect of self-efficacy against each factor revealed no such effect, so hypotheses was rejected. Application/Improvements: In this study, it is expected to systematically develop and apply programs for entrepreneurial candidates in terms of start-up by looking at the underlying reasons for university students to fail o the start-up.