Just create a property on the Form2 class and set it before you show Form2.
public class Form2
{
...
public string MyProperty { get; set; }
private void Form2_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
MessageBox.Show(this.MyProperty);
}
}
From Form1:
public void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string departmentName = "IT";
Form2 frm2 = new Form2();
frm2.MyProperty = departmentName;
frm2.Show();
this.Hide();
}