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As more and more of information systems develop into large scale web applications, the complexity of multiple possible stakeholders and users multiplies. Web engineering methodologies although developing, are still primarily addressing the technical and functional issues in these large systems. The thesis addresses the web information system development from a social-psychological viewpoint to find ways to better match the user with system development. This thesis proposes a methodology to apply adoption theory into web application development. The hypothesis being that this is another way to enhance the utilisation of the system by the users. A thorough review of both adoption theory and adoption models showed that existing models are more descriptive of the process than applicational. From a wide range of adoption models, the thesis synthesised a composite adoption model, based on an accepted descriptive framework by Rogers. This was done by mapping to this foundation framework relevant criteria and procedures from significant adoption models. Along with this composite adoption model was also developed a development procedure that mapped the adoption model to common activities found in all the web and software engineering processes, giving a formal mechanism to apply the adoption theory to a wide range of web development methodologies. In doing so the composite model introduces a new dimension into the domain analysis by identifying a new class of stakeholders, namely “adoption change agents”, and also broadens the requirements process. The adoption model and development process was then applied to the development of a substantive web information system called Platform Web. Platform Web over a three year period evolved to provide many integrated online functions, including a fully developed teaching package only available on one member, to a university wide online tutorial system that integrated to the student administrative systems, the timetabling and teaching module. As the university at that time consisted of three basically independent network members, each promoting the use of web based teaching, it was possible to run a series of statistical tests across the three members on the uptake of their respective web application teaching modules. The significant statistical results endorsing the thesis hypothesis that “Adoption modelling will enhance the effective use of web applications and the resulting web information systems if applied at the web application design level and also in the formulation of system implementation strategies, management models and system evolution methodologies.”