http://boardroompro.net/5-organizational-assessment-tools-for-nonprofits
Few governance issues are as arduous as assessing performance of the board. The assessment of board performance is more of an art than science, as there is a synergistic link between the firm, management and board performance. It’s also rarely clear cut. A board might be doing a good job of managing a business however, shareholders are upset over the poor return on their investment. The board may have inherited corporate, management or governance problems and be working hard to turn things around. It could have also invested in new strategic initiatives and created a turnaround plan.
In other instances the board may be too involved in operational details and making decisions that should be left to the management team. These issues are exacerbated by the fact that the board does not have a method that is suitable for evaluating its members. It is not difficult for minor problems to become serious issues, which could affect the effectiveness of an organization’s board.
The board may have created a culture where it doesn’t consider performance assessment as a serious matter. It could be because the board isn’t equipped with the tools to collect performance data or the boardroom expertise required to perform its responsibilities in evaluating.
Boards should not only have the right abilities, but they should also be open to the results of the evaluation. The board should determine areas that require improvement and collaborate with management to devise an action plan. This could include regular board trainings to improve knowledge across the board.