Final answer:
The term Michael Porter uses to describe how a firm's departmental strategies and competitive aims should align for the greatest impact is strategic fit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that Michael Porter uses to describe how a firm's departmental strategies and competitive aims should align for the greatest impact is strategic fit.
Strategic fit refers to the extent to which a company's internal resources and capabilities match the requirements of its external environment and its competitive strategy. It involves coordinating and aligning different strategies across various departments within a firm to achieve a cohesive and mutually supportive approach.
For example, if a company's competitive strategy is to differentiate itself through product innovation, its research and development department should focus on developing new and innovative products, while the marketing department should emphasize the unique features of these products in their promotional activities.