c# - A better way than using ViewBag -

i obtain list of data through docs has list of every single department , function logged in user has access to. need populate distinct list of departments dropdownlist , distinct list of functions dropdownlist on view page. not using docs different linq query acheive this. there way can use current model passing?

var docs = (long linq query joins in 4 different tables , returns model)  viewbag.departmentlist = db.department.where(x => (x.name != null)).select(s => new selectlistitem             {                 value = s.name,                 text = s.name             })             .distinct();  //  fill viewbag unique list of 'department's table.  viewbag.functionlist = db.function.where(x => (x.name != null)).select(s => new selectlistitem             {                 value = s.name,                 text = s.name             })             .distinct();  //  fill viewbag unique list of 'function's table. 

code on view: (strongly typed model)

@model ienumerable<db.models.masterlist>  @html.dropdownlist("departmentlist", "select department") @html.dropdownlist("functionlist", "select function") 

define model used in view.

public class myviewmodel {     public string selecteddepartment { get; set; }     public string selectedfunction   { get; set; }       public ienumerable<selectlistitem> departments  { get; set; }     public ienumerable<selectlistitem> functions    { get; set; }      // old model     public ienumerable<masterlist> master           { get; set;}  } 

in controller, populate these collections , return model view.

[httpget] public actionresult actionmethodname() {     var model = new myviewmodel();      model.departments = db.departments.where(x => (x.name != null))                           .select(s => new selectlistitem                           {                               value = s.name,                               text = s.name                           })                           .distinct();       model.functions = db.functions.where(x => (x.name != null))                           .select(s => new selectlistitem                           {                               value = s.name,                               text = s.name                           })                           .distinct();       return view(model); } 

inside view, use typed html helpers.

@model myviewmodel  @html.dropdownlistfor(m => m.selecteddepartment, model.departments) @html.dropdownlistfor(m => m.selectedfunction, model.functions) 

when post form server, selecteddepartment , selectedfunction should have values selected in view.